We follow the semester schedule as outlined in the official CMU Online Calendar. The next semester of this program will begin in August 2025. Specific class times for this certificate will be announced shortly before the start date.

The certificate can be completed in two semesters or approximately 9 months.

This certificate includes two graduate-level and credit-bearing courses taught by faculty in CMU’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

You only need to successfully complete both courses in the program if you want to earn the certificate. However, if you are interested in only the first course, you may complete that course only and it will show on your transcript with the grade earned.  

The courses are delivered 100% online. Every week, you will take at least one live-online class with a CMU professor and complete complementary learning activities on your own to supplement the class discussions.

The certificate includes two graduate-level courses at 12 units each for a total of 24 units. This is generally equivalent to approximately 8 academic credits at other institutions.

Successful applicants will have a bachelor's degree in civil engineering or a related engineering field like mechanical engineering or chemical engineering. Degrees in complementary STEM or construction-related fields (such as math, physics, architecture, and construction management) will also be considered. Applicants should have some familiarity with programming e.g. from undergraduate-level coursework or engineering projects that require coding and programming and also be comfortable with mathematical concepts like linear algebra, calculus, statistics and probability theory.

Ideally, applicants will have some work experience in either civil engineering or a related field.

Besides the online application, applicants must submit a current resumé, transcripts and a statement of purpose to be considered for enrollment.

No, this program does not require an application fee.

All applicants who submit by the priority deadline of July 16, 2025 will be considered for a partial scholarship award. The final deadline to apply is July 30, 2025.

You can view the status of your application at any time in the application portal. A decision letter from Carnegie Mellon will be sent through the application portal within a few weeks of submitting your online application.

You’ll receive a decision letter within a few weeks of submitting your application.

No, a deposit is not required to secure your spot in the program.

The total investment for the AI Engineering - Digital Twins & Analytics certificate during the 2025-2026 academic year is $16,968. A breakdown of the tuition and fees can be found on the Tuition Page. Partial scholarships are available; all applicants who submit by the priority deadline of July 16, 2025 will be considered for a partial scholarship award. Carnegie Mellon alumni are eligible for a scholarship to the Graduate Certificate in AI Engineering - Digital Twins & Analytics worth up to 20% of tuition.

Yes. CMU offers partial scholarships for admitted AI Engineering - Digital Twins & Analytics students. All applicants who submit by the priority deadline of July 16, 2025 will be considered for a partial scholarship award. Carnegie Mellon alumni are eligible for a scholarship to the Graduate Certificate in AI Engineering - Digital Twins & Analytics worth up to 20% of tuition.

Yes. CMU provides a monthly payment option, managed by Nelnet Campus Commerce, that is designed to help students spread out tuition payments into manageable monthly installments. This plan also offers the ease of online enrollment. If you are admitted into the program and choose to join us, we recommend registering for this plan early to fully benefit from the range of payment options available.

At this time, students pursuing a graduate certificate are not eligible to receive federal financial aid. However, private loans are a viable alternative to consider with competitive interest rates and borrower benefits. See FastChoice, a free loan comparison service to easily research options.

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement programs to foster professional development among their employees. We encourage you to contact your HR department to find out if similar opportunities exist at your workplace.

When you speak to your employer, be sure to tell them that our program: 

• Is offered by a university that is nationally ranked #7 for Engineering graduate programs and #1 for Artificial Intelligence graduate programs.

• Is led by highly-distinguished CMU faculty who are actively implementing digital twin technology and collaborating with organizations on high-profile projects.

• Consists of two transcripted, credit-bearing courses (not just continuing education units) taught by expert Carnegie Mellon professors from a nationally-ranked Civil and Environmental Engineering Department.

• Aligns with the definition of a digital twin as stated by experts from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. 

• Offers a comprehensive exploration of digital twins. You’ll learn the components of a digital twin and how they fit together; how to make decisions based on virtual models; how to identify opportunities for automation in your organization; and how to build a business case for digital twins.

• Covers the ethical and socio-technical considerations you must account for when using digital twins to make civil engineering decisions.

• Is rooted in the three core areas that led to the invention of artificial intelligence at CMU: computer science, machine learning and human cognition.

• Is delivered completely online, which means you can take classes on your own time while maintaining your normal work schedule.

Yes, the Graduate Certificate in AI Engineering - Digital Twins & Analytics is eligible for CMU tuition remission. See the CMU tuition remission policy to check your eligibility.

Carnegie Mellon University provides services to veterans and their dependents who are eligible for Veterans Education Benefits under the Montgomery G.I. Bill®, Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. Please note, our online graduate certificates are not currently eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program. 

The process starts with an application directly to Veterans Affairs and once approved, you will provide your Certificate of Eligibility to the Carnegie Mellon Veterans Affairs Coordinator. Contact Information and additional details about the process can be found here.

Students eligible for GI Bill funding may receive scholarship awards prior to full GI Bill funding confirmation. Scholarship awards will be adjusted to reflect GI Bill funding and cannot exceed the cost of tuition/fees.